by USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - A Sri Lankan appeals court has quashed a guilty verdict given by lawmakers against the country's chief justice in a much-criticized impeachment hearing. The judge had been found guilty of unexplained wealth and misuse of power.

The judgment Monday by three appeals court judges could further intensify a months-long dispute between the island nation's parliament and judiciary.

A parliamentary committee last month declared Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake unfit for office after finding her guilty of three out of 14 charges against her.

Bandaranayake challenged the order, saying she had not been given a fair hearing.

The appeals court's decision follows a Supreme Court ruling last week that said the parliamentary committee did not have the authority to probe Bandaranayake.